Drafting board assembly



June 15, 1965 w. A. CRAWFORD 3,189,393

DRAFTING BOARD ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I I o fi l O I I I I I. I I I IO a I I I I INVENTOR \VILLIAM A. CRAWFORD g 5 5 3% ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 Filed Feb. 5, 1962 w. A. CRAWFORD 3,189,393

DRAFTING BOARD ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 WILLIAM A. CRAWFORD ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 w. A. CRAWFORD DRAFTING BOARD ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1962 INVENTOR WILLIAM A. CRAWFORD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,l89,3% DRAFTING BOA. l) ASSEMBLY Wiiliarn A. Crawford, Wilmington, Deh, assignor to E. 1. du Pont de Nemours and (Iompany, Wilmington, Bah, a colporatipn of Delaware Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,168 3 Claims. (Cl. 312--23l) This invention relates to a new drafting board assembly in which the drafting board component thereof can be used to provide a drafting surface over a desk or said board can be conveniently stored in an exhibitory, outof-the-way position with respect to said desk. This in- Vention further relates to a multi-purpose functional desk unit in which at least part of the desk portion thereof is convertible to a drafting facility.

To provide a desk and a drafting table for a person requires that floor space be separately and, in all probability, excessively allocated for the type of work for which each piece of furniture is itended. When a drafting board is placed across a desk for temporary usage, the floor area requirement for single purpose drafing furniture is reduced. However, when the desk is needed for its original function, the drafting board must be removed therefrom causing, as a consequence, the virtual retirement of drawings to which later reference may be desired. It is desirable to have furniture which can be used interchangeably for either a drafting table or a desk and which, when used as a desk, displays the drawings in a manner conveniently available for consultation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a drafting board assembly which is of simple construction and which can be attached to a desk to convert it to a drafting table, but in a manner permitting easy conversion of the desk back to its original form, and additionally a manner in which subsequent conversion and reconversion are easily accomplished.

It is a further object to provide a drafting board assembly which permits retention of the drawings in place and exposed for easy reference when furniture to which said assembly is attached is to be used as a desk.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a functional desk unit which may be used solely as a desk, or interchangeably as a desk and drafting facility.

A further object of this invention is to provide a functional desk unit with the new drafting board assembly mounted thereon to accomplish the above objects.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished in a manner fully set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings, as to which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the drafting board assembly according to this invention as it appears when installed upon a functional desk unit,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the drafting board assembly of FIG. 1, with the adjacent back portion of t the functional desk unit shown in section,

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1, showing the drafting board stowed in its vertical stored position,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another form of the drafting board assembly according to this invention, dashed line 1100 representing the upper edge of the drafting board in the position taken when the board is extended for drafting service,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 showing, particularly, stop means not detailed in FIGS,

FIG; 7 is a enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front elevation view of the lefthand counter-weight sprocket assembly shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the drafting board of FIGS. 1 to 4, split centrally to accommodate its size to the drawing sheet,

FIG. 11 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary front elevation view of the drafting board of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of arrow X, and

FIG. 12 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary front elevation view of the drafting board of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of arrow Y.

The drafting board assembly of this invention is particularly intended for attachment to a functional desk unit of the type disclosed in US. Patent 2,658,810; however, in broader terms, this invention contemplates the use of the new assembly with any desk unit provided with a vertical stowage frame attached to or adjacent to the outer edge of the desk unit. The desk can be extensive enough to furnish concurrently adjacent conventional non-drafting work space, if desired. For maximum effective building space utilization, it is preferred to utilize L-shaped desks constructed according to US. Patent 2,658,810, it being understood that such a functional desk unit can constitute either unitary or multiple co-operating desk portions as chosen.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, drafting board 1 of the assembly of this invention is shown supported at its upper edge within a frame 2 which is secured to the partition indicated generally as 3. By this arrangement, drafting board I can be swung over the writing surface of the desk 4.

Drafting board 1 occupies two general positions with respect to the stationary upright frame 2. In the stowed position of FIG. 3, the board 1 lies withinframe 2 and in a plane substantially coextensive with the frame. Approximately all the desk surface is then available for conventional, non-drafting service. Any drawings or other exhibits to which reference is desired, when fastened to the drafting surface of board 1, remain exposed with the board in the stowed position.

When a drafting surface is desired, the lower end of board 1 is swung outward from frame 2 to a position overlying the desk top 5, as shown in FIG. 1. The construction of the drafting board assembly of this invention permits disposing board 1 in either of its two general positions easily and quickly. Thus, the new drafting board assembly renders the functional desk unit inulti-purpose at the users option. It is evident that the floor space requirement for essentially single purpose drafting furniture and desks can be greatly reduced by the use of such multi-purpose functional desk units.

Frame 2 is typically a rectangle made up by weld joinder of four pieces of 1 /2" x m" 1.80 lb. angle iron and is secured in place by an arrangement of parts such as are shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In FIG. 2, frame 2 rests on desk top 5 of desk 4 and is attached to partition 3 with spacing clips indicated generally at 6 therebetween. Representative clips 6 adapted for universal service are detailed in FIG. 4 and comprise a bracket 7 screw attached to frame 2 and to a U-channel member (unistrut) 8. Channel member 8 is fastened to bracket 9 by a bolt and nut 10, and bracket 9 is attached to partition 3 by means of a standard partition connector 11. Frame 2 is secured to partition 3 at conveniently spaced points 12 which are connected horizontally by channels 8 j as shown in FIG. 3.

Frame 2 can be adapted to attachment to numerous specific designs of furniture partitions or supporting uprights by providing holes 13 at suitable spacing along the vertical sides of frame 2 as shown in FIG. 5. For such universal adaptation, channel 8 can be replaced by con- Patented June 15, 1965 ventionalstandard mounting fittings for partitions. Similarly, a spring-loaded connector 14 shown in FIG. 4 can be used in place of a nut and bolt between bracket '7 and channel S.

Drafting board 1 is mounted pivotally and in vertically displaceable relationship along its upper margin within frame 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (dashed line). When the lower margin of board 1 is pulled outward from the stowed position of FIG. 3, the upper margin pivots in a plane within frame 2 and, in conjunction therewith, the upper margin is lowered along frame 2 until the front portion of board 1 is brought to rest on top of desk 4. Representative means for effecting the connection between board 1 and frame 2 are shown generally in FIG. 5 and, in detail, in the enlarged crosssectional view of FIG. 7. A pivot pin with a raised shoulder 16 at the inside end is loosely fitted through a drilled hole in the projections 17 on each side of board 1 and is screw-attached to a slide member indicated generally at 18. Slide 18 comprises an inner ball retainer 19, an outer ball-retaining cage 26, and the balls 21 disposed on opposite sides of pin 15. Slide 18 is slidably mounted Within guide track 22 which extends along, and is fixedly attached to, individual vertical sides of frame 2. It will be understood that the oppositely disposed slides 18 described are horizontally spaced one from another at the top of board 1, thus giving the board edgewise stability when in the drafting position.

The extent of vertical movement of the upper margin of board it is determined by retractable stop pins 233 (FIG. 6) engaging with holes 24 spotted along the vertical sides of frame 2 together with their adjacent tracks 22. A stop pin 23 is provided for each vertical side .of frame 2; these are conveniently safeguarded against loss by chains 25. lo operation, stop pins 23 are inserted in the appropriate holes 24 disposed on the same horizontal level, and the upper margin of board it is lowered until the slides 18 come to rest on the two stop pins on either side.

In another embodiment of this invention, the counterbalance system shown in FIG. 5 is employed. This system in general comprises chains 26 attached at one end to the upper margin of board 1 and at the other end to counterweights 27, said chains being trained over sprockets 28. Sprockets 2.8 are keyed on a common horizontal shaft 29. Counterweights 27 are slidably guided upon vertical rods 30 which pass through loose bores therein, which rods can be attached at their ends to frame 2 by welds 31 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.

The sprocket assembly of the counterbalance system is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9. Shaft 29 is journaled in brackets 32 which are attached to frame 2 by screws 33. Frame 2 is recessed to provide clearance for free travel of chains 26. The pivot, slide, and stop features of the non-weighted embodiments previously described are also adapted to use in the counter-balanced embodiment of this invention.

Drafting board 1 is preferably of conventional size, e.g., 32" x 43", but can be larger or smaller as desired. FIG. 10 shows a drafting board with certain preferred features which are detailed in FIGS. 11 and 12. The edge cut-outs indicated at 34 serve as convenient hand grips for ease in adjustment of the position of board ll. Recessed grooves 35 serve as retainers for holding drafting instruments and accessories when the board is extended in drafting position. Handle 36 is also provided as a co-operating aid with cut-outs 34.

Frame 2 as hereinbefore described is preferably a closed, four-sided structure as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. The frame can be made of angle-iron, wood, or other suitable material, which is either joined at the corners or notched and bent to form corners if a continuous strip is employed in the fabrication. Frame 2 should be approximately as tall as drafting board 1 when the board is in its stowed position and should be Wide enough with relation to the drafting board so that guide and stop means i located on the frame are spaced apart in the horizontal direction a distance which is sufiicient to provide stability to board it, particularly when the board is in the drafting position.

To change the position of drafting board 1, the board is merely grasped at or near the outboard margin thereof and swung either outwardly or inwardly, depending on the position desired. Such relocation is facilitated by the construction of board 1 shown in FIGS. 1O, 11, and 12.

In addition to bein combined with a functional desk unit, the drafting board assembly can also be used in conjunction with separate walls or desks. For example, frame 2 of the assembly can be mounted directly on a solid wall, with or without fittings therebetween, or, if no wall or partition is conveniently available, the frame can be mounted on the backedge of a desk top or, by suitable supports, to the back of the desk itself; tabilizing supports running from the frame to the desk surface can also be installed if desired. Alternatively, frame 2 can be dispensed with altogether, and the track and stop means described can be affixed directly to a partition or equivalent upright member. 7

Conventional pivot and slide means can, of course, be substituted for that which is shown in FIG. 7. For exam ple, the upper margin of drafting board 1 can be guided by projections extending therefrom engaging slidably within longitudinal slots in the assembly frame. Stop posh tions can then consist of cut-outs or hooks provided in the vertical guides.

If desired, guide means can be eliminated altogether, so

that the pivot means near or at the upper margin of the drafting board 3 are detachable from the frame and thus ,insertable into spaced holes provided along the frame. In

the stowed position, board 1 would then be suspended by its pivot means from appropriate stop holes located at, or near the top of, the assembly frame.

Many widely different embodiments of this invention can be made without departing from the essential spirit and scope thereof and it is accordingly intended that this invention be not limited to the specific embodiments described except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-purpose functional desk unit comprising in combination a desk and a drafting board assembly positioned adjacent to the rear peripheral edge of said desk, said drafting board assembly comprising a stationary upright frame, a drafting board disposed substantially coextensive with and in the plane of said frame when said board is in the stowed position and saidboard projecting from said frame onto said desk when said board is in the drafting position, said board being mounted pivotally but vertically displacea-ble of said frame at the upper margin of said board, and stop means coacting with said frame to arrest downward vertical movement of the upper margin of said board past a predetermined position.

2. A multi-purpose functional desk unit comprising in combination a desk, a vertical partition attached to the rear peripheral edge of said desk, and a drafting board assembly positioned coparallel with and adjacent to said partition, said drafting board assembly comprising in combination a stationary rectangular upright frame, a plurality of vertical guide means disposed along the corresponding sides of said frame, a drafting board, a plurality of pivot means aflixed to said board substantially at its upper margin and extending slidably into said vertical guide means, whereby when the lower margin of said board is arcuately displaced, the upper margin of said board is pivotable upon and vertically displaceable along said frame, and stop means coacting with said guide means to arrest downward vent-ical movement of the upper margin of said board past a predetermined position.

3. A multi-purpo'se functional desk unit comprising in V combination a desk, a vertical partition attached to the rear peripheral edge thereof, and a drafting board assembly positioned coparallel with and adjacent to said pathtion, said drafting board assembly comprising in combination a stationary rectangular upright frame, a plurality of vertical guide means disposed along the corresponding sides of said frame, a drafting board, a plurality of pivot means atfixed to said boa-rd substantially at its upper margin and extending slidably into said vertical guiderneans, whereby when the lower margin of said board is areuately displaced, the upper margin of said board is pivotabl-e upon and vertically displaceable along said frame, sto-p means coacting with said guide means to arrest downward vertical movement of the upper margin of said board past a predetermined position, and weight counterbalancing means attached to the upper end of said board.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MULTI-PURPOSE FUNCTIONAL DESK UNIT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A DESK AND A DRAFTING BOARD ASSEMBLY POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE REAR PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID DESK, SAID DRAFTING BOARD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A STATIONARY UPRIGHT FRAME, A DRAFTING BOARD DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH AND IN THE PLANE OF SAID FRAME WHEN SAID BOARD IS IN THE STOWED POSITION AND SAID BOARD PROJECTING FROM SAID FRAME ONTO SAID DESK WHEN SAID BOARD IS IN THE DRAFTING POSITION, SAID BOARD BEING MOUNTED PIVOTALLY BUT VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE OF SAID FRAME AT THE UPPER MARGIN OF SAID BOARD, AND STOP MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FRAME TO ARREST DOWNWARD VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER MARGIN OF SAID BOARD PAST A PREDETERMINED POSITION. 